Melee injuries sideline South Bend police officer

He suffered broken hand in altercation.

He suffered broken hand in altercation.

June 06, 2006|TOM MOOR Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND -- South Bend police Patrolman Jason King is currently not working due to injuries he sustained during an altercation with a suspect Friday afternoon. King's right hand was broken, and he sustained bruises to the left side of his face after exchanging punches with a male suspect about 3 p.m. on the corner of Clinton and South streets, police said. "He's off work," Capt. Phil Trent said Monday. "I don't know when he's coming back, but he's got a serious injury to his hand. I'm not sure how he broke it, because it was quite a melee." Police said Friday Cpl. Kelly Waite -- who was with King at the time -- was also injured, but Trent said he doesn't think she was hurt. He said another officer reported a hand injury, but isn't sure who. Jeffery Davis, of South Bend, was charged over the weekend with battery to an officer and resisting law enforcement. He was arraigned Monday, and his next court date is June 19. He's being held at the St. Joseph County Jail on $1,000 cash bond. The incident unfolded when King and Waite approached five males on the corner of Clinton and South streets after they allegedly saw them exchanging drugs. Four of the suspects complied with the officers' directions to lie on the ground. Davis, though, screamed at King and told him he didn't have to do what he told him, Trent said. King was able to convince Davis to sit on a curb, but he quickly got back up and walked toward him. When Davis got to within arm's length of the officer, King was able to push him down on an embankment. "Davis then stood up, paced back and forth and was yelling at the officer," Trent said. "The other guys in the group were telling this guy to comply and sit down. (King) tried to handcuff him, and that's when the whole punching started." Trent said King and Davis exchanged punches until backup arrived, which consisted of 14 police cars, two off-duty officers and an undercover unit. King was able to hit Davis "more than once." "He got attacked, and he was fighting back," Trent said of King. "He was trying to fend off an attack. "This guy was beyond resisting." Trent said officers found "a bunch of baggies full of marijuana" at the scene. All five suspects were arrested. Staff writer Patrick M. O'Connell contributed to this reportStaff writer Tom Moor: tmoor@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6187